Supporting Chicago Small Businesses Through COVID-19 Recovery

Challenge:
The COVID-19 pandemic severely impacted small businesses in Chicago, particularly within the Hispanic community. With companies facing closures, revenue loss, and limited resource access, the Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (IHCC) needed to act quickly to provide guidance and support. The challenge was to help these businesses sustain operations and recover financially during unprecedented times.

Solution:
In an emergency capacity as a COVID-19 Recovery Business Advisor for IHCC, I led a team focused on reaching small business owners in the Chicago market. Our primary objective was to assess the immediate needs of these businesses and provide actionable solutions to help them survive the economic downturn caused by the pandemic.

I managed strategic planning initiatives and analytics to identify the most at-risk businesses. I ensured they received guidance on grant applications, loan forgiveness programs, and business continuity planning. We successfully launched a $10,000 recovery grant program for businesses in suburban Cook County, ensuring timely access to financial relief.

Results:

Helped over 250 small business owners secure grants and financial aid to offset pandemic-related losses, enabling them to continue operations.

I managed a team that provided business owners  one-on-one consultations, improving their resilience and adaptability to the new market environment.

The program strengthened the local economy by ensuring businesses remained operational, protecting jobs, and fostering community engagement.

This case study highlights my ability to manage crisis response efforts and lead a team to deliver meaningful social impact. I ensured businesses in need could sustain operations during one of the most challenging periods in history.